Gluten Not to Blame For Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity

Gluten has been blamed for a lot over the last few years. It’s been linked to asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.

However, research is now showing that gluten isn’t the culprit. Research out of Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany has found that these conditions are actually caused by a wheat protein called amylase-trypsin inhibitors (ATIs).

According to the research, ATIs promote inflammation and other immune-related conditions.

ATIs make up no more than 4% of wheat proteins, but can trigger powerful immune reactions in the gut that can spread to other tissues in the body. Lead researcher, Professor Detlef Schuppan from the Johannes Gutenberg University, Germany, explains, “As well as contributing to the development of bowel-related inflammatory conditions, we believe that ATIs can promote inflammation of other immune-related chronic conditions outside of the bowel. The type of gut inflammation seen in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity differs from that caused by coeliac disease, and we do not believe that this is triggered by gluten proteins.

This may not make a huge difference to most people because it still means you’ll need to avoid grains that contain ATIs. Still, it is good to know what is causing poor health so we can better understand how to manage and remedy the problem.

Also, it looks like non-coeliac gluten sensitivity is going to need a new name.